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Down The Hatch

2.8 (180 reviews)
ModerateAmerican
Closed • 11:30 am - 7:00 pm
Updated 3 weeks ago

Down The Hatch Photos

DOWN THE HATCH ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Outdoor seating
Dogs allowed

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Recommended Reviews - Down The Hatch

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Reviews With Photos

along the water
John M.

Always a pretty setting, eclectic crowd, fun bar, with boat access. On a pretty spring or fall day it's a nice way to greet the season. Summer rocks with music as well.

Julie L.

I've been going here for years only because it's the only place in our area to eat on the water. However, over the years it has become apparent that the view is the only thing they have going for them. The food is overpriced and not fresh (definitely pre-prepared or frozen). The real nail in the coffin, though, is that the restaurant owners are raging MAGA/Trump supporters. And they like to advertise it. Very bad for business & distasteful. It tells me just what kind of people they are and what they stand for, and I will not be dining here again just for that reason alone. Never mind the bad food. There is zero diversity in their staff, which is a real shame as well, but not surprising.

View of the lake from our table
Christine F.

Lakeside bar (so bar music & noisy, but to be expected). They have a large multi tier outdoor seating with umbrellas and spectacular views of the lake from all tiers. Staff are friendly, courteous, nice and fun. We shared a Gorgonzola bacon burger and mahi fish sandwich both came with fries and both were tasty. Definitely vacation bathing suit, summer, etc. atmosphere. We would come back if in the area again. Perfect casual afternoon lunch.

Shrimp Basket
Lissette B.

I have been here 3 times now and it never disappoints! The ambiance and food are great! It's a casual outdoor dining by the water. What else could you ask for ? We had the pleasure of having the same server, Viola, she is always pleasant serving with a smile. The food runners are so polite. But let's talk about that view! Boats docking to come dine. Love this place!!! My only suggestions are to add some steaks , oysters, and clams to the menu. That would make it perfect!! One thing I want to add it's not so handicap easily accessible, there's a ramp to the outdoor dining but rest rooms are on the upper level. There should be another rest room on the outdoor dining area

Fish & Chips
Langdon L.

Lunch on the Lake in Danbury. This spot came highly recommended from my family for a specific dish...my favorite actually, Fish 'n' Chips. My lunch did not disappoint at all. Batter on the fish was Crunchy but not too thick and had a nice little chewiness as well. Also the batter did not overwhelm the fish which was cooked perfectly, juicy and tender. All I had to do was add some lemon and malt vinegar, which I always add to my Fish'n'Chips and away we went on a delicious lunch adventure. The fries(Chips) were perfect starchy, salty and just a bit crispy. Top notch dish and dining experience at Down the Hatch. Thank You and I shall return!

IPA

Wonderful place, with great food, service minded staff and spectacular views! We look at previous reviews and they made Us consider, but we went anyways and have definitely not regretted! I had the DTH burger and wife the Pulled pork special.. both were top notch! Beer was cool and I would come here again anytime!

a view of a lake and boats
Kris M.

Covid 19 has made everything difficult for everyone, but at Down the Hatch, they did their best! Nancy was fantastic. She provided great service--plus a few laughs. A great afternoon and fun in the sun. It was the highlight of our day on the lake.

Miami Vice
Leah S.

Fairly priced food and drinks for the only lakeside restaurant on Candlewood Lake. Go earlier to avoid a rowdy crowd. Salad portion was generous. Korean BBQ chicken sandwich was tasty. Drinks were great! Great place to enjoy a sunny day.

Scott N.

Went for the first time today.. of course it started to rain as soon as we started to eat and stopped when we finished.. That didn't take away from the excellent experience we had. Our waitress was fantastic getting us moved to a table under cover.. The food was very good. Had fish and chips and from other reviews you would think I would get fish sticks. Instead it was 2 nice pieces of beer batter cod. She had the half pound bacon cheese burger. We will be back but check the forecast first..

Small portion of calamari
Adriana R.

One thing about mostly negative reviews , most times the majority wins. The waitress was nice let me start with that , however the surcharges were ridiculous . They charged my fiancé two fees for adding Hennessy instead of rum to his piña colada , like why ? The calamari was very minimal for the price. The drink the waitress recommended tasted like NyQuil . Food was average . Very little flavor and 75 cent surcharge for extra tartar sauce which they gave us two little ones for two full meals . Best part about this place was the views

Theresa B.

I've been coming here since I was a baby and I've always loved it. Obviously, the main draw is that it's right on the lake, making for a great spot to have dinner or drinks in the summer. The food is average, but the atmosphere makes up for it, even if watching everyone on the water with their boats does make me a little jealous. If bikers annoy you, probably avoid. I don't care at all, but this is a notorious biker stop. It can also get pretty loud, even in the morning when it first opens. That I do mind a little, but it's par for the course for such a popular place.

Quesadillas

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9 months ago

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9 months ago

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2 years ago

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2 months ago

No bueno. I think a 2.8 overall rating pretty much sums this place up. I won't be back. Drinks were watered down, too much ice.

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6 months ago

I have enjoyed many meals here. I was very disappointed to learn that they were closing. I am looking forward to seeing what come here.

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2 years ago

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3 years ago

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7 years ago

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2 years ago

Get the buckets.. you'll thank me I was sad I couldn't bring the bucket home but I understand

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6 years ago

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3 years ago

Great ambiance on Candlewood Lake. The food was good. Simple standard bar/restaurant food.! Waiter was friendly and attentive.

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The Reserve

The Reserve

(13 reviews)

The food was okay, but I was very disappointed in the service. Appetizers took forever to come out,…read moreand our server never apologized for the wait nor checked on us to see how our meal was. Oysters were very good, but the calamari came out cold and was very bland and overpriced. The aesthetics are solid for the establishment, and the entree was decent. Not a bad restaurant, but the service is a major downside and needs significant improvement.

Today was my first time at The Reserve, and I unfortunately have to agree with some of the Google…read morereviews. The food took quite a long time to come out. We started with a couple of drinks, which were very strong..maybe a little too strong. My sangria didn't taste like sangria at all, and I honestly couldn't tell what was in it. It didn't have any fruit, and I think vodka was added. We ordered the calamari and what was listed as hummus with pita. When it arrived, we noticed the "hummus" was actually spinach and artichoke dip. I had to ask about it since I have an allergy and wanted to make sure a certain ingredient wasn't included. We decided to keep it and I'm glad we did because it was absolutely delicious!! The calamari was just as good, if not better. Both appetizers were fantastic. For our entrée, we ordered the rigatoni to share. There was a bit of confusion, as our waitress (who was also the bartender) thought we wanted it packed to go, when we actually planned to eat it and then take the rest home. She quickly fixed it in the kitchen, so really no harm done. My only guess is that since we had been sitting with appetizers for quite a while, she may have assumed we were finished eating.. I mean it was a while. The pasta itself was cooked perfectly and the sauce was very good. However, it was topped with microgreens and cilantro which really threw me off! I've never had a pasta dish garnished with cilantro, especially instead of something more traditional like basil...? It felt like a strange choice and was a bit unappetizing for me. Overall, it was a very... odd... first experience. Would I give it another shot? Yes, but I think I'd wait a bit and hope things become more organized. I have to add it is beautiful inside. They have the cutest lights on the table. Appetizers: 10/10 Drinks: 3/10 Entrée: 5/10

Rebellion Kitchen + Bar - Capo Caponata and Bronzino
gremolata, cous cous, caponata

Rebellion Kitchen + Bar

(80 reviews)

every single thing on the menu was a 10/10 which is crazy bc I never give any food a 10/10 lmaoo it…read morewas soooo insanely good and staff was very cool very attentive overall great experience, great atmosphere, great food.

We visited Rebellion Kitchen + Bar on Thanksgiving Eve, so the restaurant wasn't very busy, but…read morethat actually made the experience even better. The atmosphere felt relaxed and welcoming, and the staff was attentive without ever being rushed. It gave us a great chance to really enjoy the space and the food. We started with the two-cheese crostini, which ended up being one of the highlights of the night. The bread was perfectly crisp, and the cheeses had just the right amount of richness without being heavy. I also tried their seasonal non-alcoholic Spiced Apple-Lini, and it was surprisingly delicious--refreshing, slightly sweet, and very "fall in a glass." For my entrée, I ordered the chicken Milanese, and I have to say it might be the best I've ever had. I'm usually very particular about chicken dishes, but the flavor and texture were spot-on. The breading was light and crispy, and the chicken itself wasn't dry at all. The plate came with a beautiful mix of seasonal vegetables--roasted squash, shaved fennel, cranberries, and arugula--topped with an apple cider vinaigrette that pulled everything together. It tasted fresh, balanced, and really thoughtful. We ended the meal with their cheesecake served with a house-made pistachio crème. The flavor was fantastic, especially the pistachio topping, which really made it unique. My only tiny note is that I personally prefer cheesecake a bit colder and denser rather than closer to room temperature, but that's purely personal preference and didn't take away from enjoying it. The owner also came by to chat with us, and he was incredibly friendly--clearly someone who cares about his guests and the quality of the experience. Between the great service, thoughtful menu, and inviting atmosphere, we're already looking forward to coming back and trying more dishes. Definitely a strong addition to the Danbury dining scene.

Rein Osteria - Salmon

Rein Osteria

(127 reviews)

$$$

We had a wonderful anniversary dinner on February 5th. We sat at the bar for drinks and an…read moreappetizer. The bartender was so attentive. Our first drinks were on the house...he was so excited to hear that we were married 60 years. Moved to a table for dinner. We had crab cakes as a second appetizer which were delicious as well as our seafood dinners. I had lobster with fettuccine and veggies. My husband had pasta seafood. Had just enough room for an Irish coffee and gelato. Service was fantastic! Can't say enough about our experience. Thanks for a wonderful evening!

I visited this place on a Thursday night. Initially, it seemed welcoming--the host was friendly and…read moreseated us promptly. Unfortunately, the experience quickly declined once our server arrived. They were dismissive, gave us uncomfortable looks, and their attitude made us feel unwelcome. The food was mediocre and not worth the price. Most dishes lacked flavor, especially the chicken wings, which had no seasoning at all. Throughout the meal, we were consistently overlooked by the staff. Despite being clearly visible, we had to repeatedly ask for assistance while employees stood nearby without offering help. What made the experience particularly upsetting was the sense that we were being treated differently based on our appearance. The behavior felt discriminatory and left us feeling uncomfortable and unwelcome. Overall, I would not recommend this place. We barely ate and asked for the check early just so we could leave

Barnwood Tavern - Philly Cheesesteak Eggrolls

Barnwood Tavern

(21 reviews)

Open on Thanksgiving. We were pleasantly surprised to find a…read morewarm and inviting environment. The wait staff was pleasant and prompt. The three course meal was just right at $49.99. We plan on moving to the area and so, we shall return.

The last thing I want to do is jump to conclusions of racism but this seemed pretty blatant. I…read morenever jump to that conclusion lightly -- and honestly, I tried to talk myself out of what I was seeing in real time. But after replaying the situation, I couldn't unsee it. My date and I had an 8:00 PM Valentine's Day reservation and arrived on time. We checked in with the hostess and were told our table would be ready "in a moment," which was totally fine. We stood and waited patiently. Shortly after, a white couple walked in behind us and told the hostess they technically had an 8:15 PM reservation but were told to come at 8:00. They were seated immediately. We looked at each other but didn't say anything -- we figured maybe they had something ready and ours was being turned over. Then another white couple came in with an 8:00 PM reservation and was also seated right away. At this point, we were still standing there. No update. No explanation. No reassurance. All three parties were groups of two. There was no difference in party size, and we were on time for our reservation. Being skipped once might be a mistake. Being skipped twice, with no communication at all, felt intentional and uncomfortable. We were left standing there feeling confused and honestly unwelcome. If there was a legitimate reason for the delay, it was never communicated to us. No "your table is being cleared," no "we're just running behind," nothing. Just silence while other couples were seated in front of us. What was the difference between their table and ours that we were moved to the side to stand and wait? Everyone was a party of 2. We arrived on time and were the first ones in the door.. I truly didn't want to believe what this looked like, but it became impossible to ignore. We ended up leaving because the situation made us feel disrespected and unwanted as customers. Valentine's Day is obviously a busy night, but fairness and basic communication are non-negotiable. I would not recommend this place, and I especially would not recommend it to people of color based on how we were treated.

Down The Hatch - tradamerican - Updated May 2026

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